Zombalupagus:He had a passion for science that truly inspired him and filled him with awe and wonder but more importantly he was able to convey these feelings to regular people. He inspired a whole generation of scientists and creative thinkers.

One is not the other. I seriously doubt Sagan successfully conveyed any feelings to "regular people". Regular people utterly lack a sense of wonder. Talk about Sagan to "regular people" and you'll get snide comments about a commie pinko pothead. Nothing you say can awaken a curiosity that died early in childhood.

Sagan is relevant today because of your last sentence. Many people who did go on to become scientists were first inspired by Carl Sagan. The PBS budget for that show probably made itself back a thousand times over in economic productivity alone. It is arguably economically essential to encourage this sort of wonderment for that reason alone. But for all of Carl's admirable efforts, "regular people" were just as stupid and derpy after the show aired as before.